The Rap Star [EN]: Chapter 154

Verse 23. Final Battle

Before their appearance on *Hip Hop the Vibe*, the 888 Crew’s music possessed a certain endearing amateurism.

This wasn’t a reflection on the quality of their music or the musicians’ dedication. Rather, the 888 Crew approached music as a form of self-expression and personal fulfillment, not primarily as a career.

Consequently, they tended to create songs only when inspiration struck. Naturally, with eight distinct artists collaborating, those moments of inspiration often collided in exciting ways.

Interestingly, this ‘amateur’ ethos within the 888 Crew originated with Sanghyun and gradually influenced the other members.

Sanghyun harbored an unconscious aversion to Big Money. This stemmed from past regrets, a time when he was consumed by the pursuit of capital and neglected other values.

However, *Hip Hop the Vibe* prompted their amateurism to evolve in a positive direction.

Preparing for weekly filming on a strict schedule, they experienced music born from deliberate effort, not just fleeting inspiration. They began to approach music with a newfound professionalism.

Of course, the 888 Crew still poured their hearts into their music and upheld the values of “Be the Underground.” This remained the core principle of the 888 World.

But the idea of treating music as a profession began to subtly influence those core values.

The true gift *Hip Hop the Vibe* bestowed upon the 888 Crew wasn’t fame or a larger fanbase. It wasn’t money, nor the high-end recording equipment that would soon grace their studio.

It was the power to endure.

Even when inspiration and talent seemed to wane, they now possessed the experience and mindset to pursue music as a lifelong journey.

This was the real legacy of *Hip Hop the Vibe*, which spanned six intense weeks.

‘To run a long race, you have to tie your shoelaces tight.’

Thus, Sanghyun’s final song was about precisely that: tying shoelaces tight.

Back to the Base.

Returning to the origin.

Tying shoelaces tight to ensure a long run.

The title of the closing song for *Hip Hop the Vibe Two*, Episode One, appeared on the screen above the stage.

It was Run This Town.

-888 Crew Bootleg 0.5-

9. Run This Town – Lee Sanghyun Feat. L&S

The song that introduced Miju, L&S, and the president of Sejong Music to Sanghyun, ultimately paving the way for his participation in the Jeonju Worldwide Indie Music Festival.

The song that marked the debut of Lee Sanghyun as a musician.

The ninth track from ‘Bootleg 0.5’.

Run This Town.

Suddenly, the words ‘Run This Town’ on the screen began to morph. The new words reflected the 888 Crew’s meteoric rise in just a few short months.

Run This Scene.

The 888 Crew and Sanghyun were no longer just musicians dominating ‘Gwangju.’ While their music originated there, it was now igniting the entire Korean hip-hop scene.

-Kyaaaaaa!

-Run This Town!

-Run This Scene!

The audience erupted, confirming the ambitious title of the final song.

Most of the crowd had discovered Run This Town through Bootleg 0.5. Even those unfamiliar with the song couldn’t help but feel the excitement radiating from the audience.

“Respect Run DMC!!”

Sanghyun, who had been standing motionless under the bright lights, suddenly shouted.

A tribute to Run DMC [influential hip-hop group from the 1980s].

-Zhiiiiing!

A powerful electric guitar riff sliced through the air, grabbing everyone’s attention.

Following the guitar, a steady drumbeat and heavy bassline kicked in, accompanied by Miju’s signature sharp keyboard sound, which distinguished “Walk This Way” from “Run This Town.”

-Wowwwww!

-Kyaaaaaa!

Even with just the intro, the audience was already headbanging and jumping. The concert hall pulsed with energy.

Indeed, geniuses are different.

‘Let’s make something funky.’

That’s what Aerosmith’s guitarist Joe Perry said in 1975, and they created “Walk This Way.”

It was truly remarkable that music created in 1975 could still resonate so powerfully in 2005, three decades later.

Indeed, geniuses are different.

Nineteen years ago, in 1986, Run DMC posed a question.

‘Why isn’t there rap metal (rap rock)?’

They invited Aerosmith’s Joe Perry and Steven Tyler to record “Walk This Way,” the fourth track on their album. This fusion of rap and rock, born from Run DMC’s curiosity, instantly reshaped the cultural landscape.

It was truly amazing how they injected the magic of rap into a predominantly white audience with a single song, elevating rap from a marginalized genre to a cultural force.

Sanghyun wondered if he could create a sound that would captivate audiences for decades, like Aerosmith. He also wondered if he could create a track that would redefine cultural trends, like Run DMC.

But one thing was certain.

He, too, would dedicate himself entirely to music, living and breathing it for the rest of his life.

Rapstar.

A title that would one day be his.

-Zhiiiiing!

The funky electric guitar riff climbed higher, and the drums intensified their relentless assault. Behind them, a sharp keyboard and a lurking bassline added to the sonic tapestry.

The moment when “Walk This Way,” a testament to the brilliance of musical pioneers, was reinterpreted in Korea as ‘Run This Town, or Run This Scene.’

Sanghyun seized the microphone.

All eyes locked onto him, eager to hear his rap. They craved the rhymes and flows that would fill their ears. But, unexpectedly, Sanghyun didn’t launch into a rap.

“Wait a minute. Please stop the performance.”

The flawless start was abruptly halted by Sanghyun’s interruption. The audience, caught up in the music, stared at him with puzzled and slightly annoyed expressions.

Sanghyun couldn’t help but chuckle. The situation mirrored his first performance at Sejong Music.

He could almost picture the L&S members smiling knowingly below.

“I think the audience has forgotten one important fact.”

Sanghyun’s words drew confused looks. Only a few sharp individuals seemed to grasp his intention.

“Run This Scene is the last song the 888 Crew is performing on the *Hip Hop the Vibe* stage. But… you remember what I won in the third round, right?”

A collective “Ah!” rippled through the crowd, and someone shouted, “The featuring rights!”

Sanghyun grinned, took a deep breath, and shouted with the energy of a wrestling announcer.

“Ladies & Gentlemen-!”

“Let me introduce MY BROTHER-!”

The performance of “Run This Scene” resumed, and the stage lights expanded dramatically.

The audience finally saw the stage lift rising from the back, carrying four musicians delivering a passionate performance.

Leader and lead guitar, Bang Minshik.

Gwangju’s best bassist, Yongjun.

A drummer with impeccable rhythm, Hwang Insoo.

Vocalist and keyboardist, Shin Miju.

“BAND L&S——!”

At Sanghyun’s thunderous shout, L&S’s instruments exploded with amplified sound.

A sonic boom, so loud it startled the sound engineer, crashed onto the stage. The audience, showing no signs of fatigue, screamed again and began to bounce with renewed energy.

Electric guitar, bass, drums, keyboard.

The four instruments unleashed a torrent of sound that threatened to tear the speakers apart, and finally, Sanghyun’s long-awaited rap began.

Most of the audience who knew “Run This Town” joined in, singing along. Their voices filled the concert hall, sending shivers down the musicians’ spines.

-Run This Town! Gwangju City is all mine!

But Sanghyun wasn’t satisfied.

“Run This Town? Is that all you’ve got?”

Sanghyun stopped the sing-along, swayed to the rhythm, and launched into a four-bar loop.

The first words were a soft whisper.

Run This Scene. The entire Korean hip-hop scene is mine.

The audience, accustomed to the high volume, struggled to hear him over the ringing in their ears.

Run This Scene. The entire Korean hip-hop scene is mine.

Run This Scene! The entire Korean hip-hop scene is mine!

Sanghyun’s voice grew louder with each repetition. The audience began to understand his message.

Not Run This Town, but Run This Scene.

Finally, Sanghyun roared.

Run This Scene! Korean hip-hop! All mine-!

The audience erupted in screams, and L&S’s performance returned to the beginning. Sanghyun screamed at the top of his lungs.

“Let’s go-!”

The booming drums aimed their guns at the audience, threatening them with sound. The audience willingly welcomed the assault, raising their hands high.

That’s how “Run This Scene,” the finale of *Hip Hop the Vibe*, began.

Run This Scene! The entire Korean hip-hop scene is mine!

Just bring one rhyme, Swagger! Maker!

56 grows! Copy my own Origin

The stage and- the lights- go well together

Sanghyun, who opened the rap with the line ‘Run This Scene, the entire Korean hip-hop scene is mine,’ remained silent for the following three bars. The audience sang it for him.

The sight of countless people singing his lyrics was always exhilarating.

The cameramen sprang into action. At the urging of PD [Production Director] Heo Taejin, who was heard through the in-ear monitors saying, ‘Shoot everything unconditionally!’, the cameras moved busily, capturing the enthusiastic response of the 600 audience members.

The first round of performances was decided by an internal vote, so there was no audience. In the second and third rounds, the theme battle and battle rap format prevented the audience from singing along.

So, the “Run This Scene” that Sanghyun was now performing was the first true sing-along of *Hip Hop the Vibe*. Aside from the guerrilla concert, that is.

‘888 Crew is nailing everything.’

PD Heo Taejin had hoped that Stars Records and 888 Crew would use the fourth round, with its lack of restrictions, for promotional purposes. He wanted it to be a reward for the two teams who had performed so well.

*Hip Hop the Vibe*’s fourth round was the perfect opportunity. Most of the 600 audience members knew the songs of both teams. This meant that performing existing songs could quickly turn them into ‘famous songs.’

Even viewers unfamiliar with the song would likely think, ‘Ah, that’s a famous song I don’t know,’ seeing 600 people singing along.

Unlike Stars Records’ performance, which featured new and updated songs, 888 Crew brought out existing hits, including “Why Come.”

They truly understood the flow and trends.

‘That guy must be the mastermind?’

PD Heo Taejin guessed, watching Sanghyun tearing up the stage. But he didn’t know that Sangmi was the one who chose the songs for today’s performance.

Verse 23. Final Battle End

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